By Tony Okafor
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in a viral video, issued a seven-day pre-demolition notice to owners of illegal structures in Onitsha.
In the video, the Governor asked those involved to submit their property titles to the government within the stipulated period.
While some may argue that this is not an immediate demolition order, the brevity of the notice raises serious concerns about fairness, due process, and reasonableness.
A pre-demolition notice is not a mere administrative formality. It is intended to inform property owners, give them an opportunity to respond, regularize their structures, or challenge the action, and generally ensure that enforcement respects the principles of law and human dignity. A seven-day window, however, is hardly sufficient for any of these essential purposes.
Onitsha is a city with permanent residential and commercial structures, many of which house families, businesses, and livelihoods. Expecting citizens to digest the notice, seek legal advice if necessary, gather documents, or apply for regularization within just seven days is not only unrealistic—it is unfair.
The Nigerian Constitution is clear: every citizen is entitled to a fair hearing and protection of property. Even where structures are illegal, government action must comply with due process.
A pre-demolition notice that allows too little time effectively denies citizens any meaningful opportunity to be heard, functioning in practice almost like an immediate demolition order.
Governor Soludo’s administration has emphasized law, order, and urban development—goals that are laudable.
However, these objectives must be pursued within the bounds of legality and fairness. Development achieved through rushed notices and disregard for due process risks eroding public trust and creating unnecessary conflict.
Extending the notice period would not weaken enforcement. On the contrary, it would demonstrate respect for citizens’ rights, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to humane governance.
Illegal structures must be addressed. But the law demands that action be measured, just, and reasonable. A seven-day pre-demolition notice is simply too short to meet that standard.
Development without fairness is not progress—it is coercion.
Ubi ius ibi remedium — where there is a right, there is a remedy.
